how to get dry erase marker off wall
Kristina Davis

Wondering how to get dry erase marker off wall?  Walked into a room and found your child exploring his or her creativity on a white wall with a dry erase marker?

Perhaps your partner thought she was being cute, scribbling a message on your wall.

Maybe your roommate thought to prank you and now you’re in trouble with your landlord. Whatever the situation, you’re now left wondering.

Well, we’re here to tell you that cleaning dry erase marker stains is actually quite simple, and you don’t need any expensive cleaning tools for it either.

What you have laying around the house is more than enough.

Here are some quick and DIY methods to clear out all the dry erase marker stains with no consequences to the wall or the beautiful coat of paint.

How to Get Dry Erase Marker Off Wall?

ow to get dry erase marker off the wall

Dry erase markers produce a stain that tissues or a kitchen rag and soap can’t take off, especially if it’s a deep stain.

Fortunately, you have several options, and many only require everyday household items.

Let’s explore some of these!

1. Rubbing Alcohol

rubbing alcohol

You will require rubbing alcohol under 45% strength, cotton balls or swabs, and a clean wet rag or washcloth for this step.

Add a little rubbing alcohol to your medium of choice and lightly wipe over the dry eraser marker lines on your wall.

They should disappear fairly quickly. Once the stain is gone, use a cleaning rag to remove any residue left by the rubbing alcohol.

Tip: A small amount of paint does come off when you use alcohol, so do not overdo the scrubbing part. You don’t have to worry though, it’ll only be a little paint, and the wall will still look as good as new.

2. Hair Spray

using hair spray

Hair spray is another household item that can effectively remove those undesirable marker stains.

Spray generously on the area that’s been painted with a dry erase marker and let it sit for a few minutes.

Use a dry rag and rub in a circular motion. The spray will mix with the marker ink and lift it off the wall surface. Finally, wipe the area down with a damp cloth.

Tip: Some walls might not be suitable for cleaning in this manner because the hair spray might take a layer of paint off.

It’s best to experiment in a tiny unnoticeable section first before getting to the stain.

3. Nail Polish Remover

using rail polish remover

The same instructions and precautions go for nail polish removers as with hair spray. Nail polish remover contains acetone, which is helpful to remove paint, just like hairspray.

Start with a little and rub lightly. Don’t allow the nail polish remover sit on the wall for too long or it might dissolve deeper layers of paint.

4. Office Erase and Water

use office erase

This is another old-fashioned trick like rubbing alcohol, and the quickest way, how to get dry erase marker off a wall.

Just dip the eraser into some warm water and rub it over the stain on the wall, similar to how you would erase a pencil mark.

Of all the solutions on this list, this is the cheapest and easiest one.

However, if you notice the stain smearing, stop immediately and try a different way to get the stain off the wall. It’s better than having to deal with a larger mess.

5. Melamine Sponge

using sponge

Melamine sponges are incredibly porous and have tremendous absorption power, which makes them a useful cleaning asset.

You can dip the sponge in soapy water and rub along the stain in a circular motion to try and get it off.

The combined effectiveness of its porous surface and absorption power makes it a special sponge that’s a much better option for cleaning dry surfaces than most other sponges.

6. Acetone

Acetone is one of the strongest remedies for getting dry erase marker off a wall. So be extra careful. 

To avoid any damage to the wall, you need to test apply acetone on a small part of the surface.

If the paint on the wall isn’t dissolving, feel free to rub all traces of the dry erase marker. Use a fleece rag or cloth to wipe away residue.

7. Toothpaste

using toothpaste

It’s surprising how many people don’t know that toothpaste is an effective cleaning agent when fighting ink stains.

It works fantastically well on our teeth stains because of the gentle, stain-removing compounds it contains.

If you have a light stain that doesn’t require any heavy bleaching or scrubbing, use toothpaste.

Here’s how:

  • Apply some warm water to the marker stain on the wall
  • Next, add a dab of toothpaste to a spare toothbrush and scrub gently until the marks start to fade
  • Rinse with water or wipe down with a damp cloth once you’re done

8. Baking Soda

using baking soda

The final household item on our list is baking soda, a popular cooking agent found in most kitchens.

To use baking soda, you’ll also need a sponge with an abrasive side for scrubbing.

Dampen the sponge and sprinkle a small amount of baking soda over it. A couple of pinches should suffice. Place the sponge on to the affected area on the wall and rub in a circular motion.

Depending on how harsh the stain is, you might have to rinse and repeat these steps a couple of times over. But baking soda is probably one of the safest effective ways to remove dry erase markings.

Since toothpaste contains a large amount of baking soda, it explains why toothpaste is an effective cleaner, too.

When All Else Fails, Go for An Industrial Ink Stain Remover

If none of the recommendations listed previously work to your satisfaction, consider a commercially available stain remover. These range in strength depending on the potency of the stain you want to remove.

It’ll take some trial and error to figure out which solution is best for you. Just keep in mind that the ideal outcome is a balance of effectiveness and safety.

Here are some sample brands for you to check out at your leisure.

As A Last Resort, Paint Over the Mark

If the marks are too large or persistent despite trying everything, don’t worry. You can still work your magic and make the stain disappear.

Simply use paint! Find a hue matching your wall’s color and slather on a thin layer or two.

How to Get dry Erase Marker off the Wall?  Which Method Should You Choose?

As you’ve seen, there are many ways to get dry erase marker off the wall. However, with choices comes the stress-inducing task of trying to figure out which one will suit your requirements.

Options will vary case by case, so you’ll need to make a decision based on the severity of the stain and how far back you had your last coat of paint done.

The catch is to erase every last trace of the mark without smudging or removing any paint on the wall.

Most of the simple DIY options we included on the list that can be done with household items like alcohol, baking soda, toothpaste, and nail polish remover are strong enough to take care of light to medium stains and are paint-friendly.

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